Delhi Police on Thursday arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan for protesting against the anti-encroachment drive by the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in Madanpur Khadar area, where locals claimed that the legal framework had been bulldozed. . The Okhla MLA, who was involved in the protest, was detained along with others in the morning.
Earlier in the day, anti-encroachment operations carried out in different parts of the national capital led to violent protests in southeast Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar. According to the police, the local people of the area tried to stop the bulldozer and pelted stones at the security personnel but they were chased away.
The SDMC launched operations in Madanpur Khadar and Dhirsen Marg, while the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) took action in Rohini and Karol Bagh. Delhi’s three municipal corporations – South, East and North – are ruled by the BJP.
Locals, including women, gathered on roads and on buildings to protest the action, as bulldozers surrounded by SDMC officials and police to demolish alleged illegal structures at Kanchan Kunj in Madanpur Khadar. The protesters included Khan and his supporters who raised anti-BJP slogans.
SDMC officials said two to three illegal buildings and other temporary structures were demolished in the Kanchan Kunj area of Manadpur Khadar. A senior police officer said earlier in the day, “We have detained AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others who, along with supporters and locals, had opposed the campaign. We have made adequate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident.” During the protest, security personnel were seen wearing helmets and with batons to disperse the crowd.
However, locals alleged that civic authorities “took money” to allow construction in the area and called the demolition drive “politically motivated”.
Naushad, 32, of the area, said the demolition started at 11 am and his brother’s building collapsed. “The police as well as the civic body took the money about 20 days back and gave permission for the construction. But despite this, he broke it. My brother has plot papers bought from a farmer. The civic body took Rs 3 lakh from my brother. They are not even ready to talk to us now.” Another resident of the area told reporters that the action was “politically motivated”.
He said, “There is no encroachment here and even if the structures were built illegally then where was the SDMC when such buildings were being built?”
“I will not let the bulldozers fall on the homes of the poor. Arrest me if he saves houses from collapse. We are also against encroachment. Tell us about them and we’ll remove it. There is no encroachment here,” the AAP MLA had said.
SDMC Central Zone chairman Rajpal Singh, however, refuted Khan’s allegations, saying the operation was against the “mafia” encroaching on government land.
“Adequate police force and our enforcement teams equipped with bulldozers and trucks have started removing illegal buildings, kiosks, temporary structures in Madanpur Khadar. Our drive against encroachment will continue and anyone obstructing it will be dealt with accordingly.
The latest action was a part of a series of anti-encroachment drives by the civic bodies since mid-April.
Shaheen Bagh picket
The Delhi Police had on May 9 registered an FIR against Khan and his supporters for allegedly obstructing the anti-encroachment operation at Shaheen Bagh. The SDMC had lodged a police complaint against Khan and his supporters accusing them of obstructing their campaign at Shaheen Bagh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Isha Pandey had said, “Based on the complaint received from the SDMC, sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or assault) were filed against Amanatullah Khan and his supporters. An FIR has been registered. Criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code.
In a complaint to the SHO of Shaheen Bagh, SDMC’s Central Zone Licensing Inspector had said that a drive to remove encroachment on the main road in Shaheen Bagh was scheduled on Monday and its staff and police personnel were present on the spot to carry out the action. . ,
“Amanatullah Khan MLA (Okhla) along with his supporters did not allow the field staff of the area SDMC to remove the encroachment. In view of the above, you are requested to take appropriate legal action against Amanatullah Khan and his supporters for interfering in the discharge of official duties by the public servants,” SDMC’s Central Zone Licensing Inspector wrote in the complaint.
Hundreds of people, including women, protested the SDMC’s anti-encroachment drive at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh on Monday as bulldozers entered the area in the presence of a large number of police personnel. The civic body team was forced to return without rehearsing.
The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled SDMC as well as the central government and demanded a halt to the action. Some women protesters even stood in front of the bulldozers to stop the exercise.
An anti-encroachment drive was carried out in Jahangirpuri area on April 20, following a communal clash during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the area a few days earlier. The campaign was stopped following the order of the Supreme Court. In the later days, demolition drives were carried out in areas like Shaheen Bagh, New Friends Colony, Dwarka and Najafgarh.
(with inputs from PTI)
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